Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-11-04
why should There be a New Consti-
tuti0na

1901 framed anu huOpteu Tue pT6ocut OVu-
Under 1t VIC have lived and pros
pered for twenty years. We have thoroughly
tested its provisions and have found them
and substantial. Under the prin
ciples of this Constitution we have acquired
rights and property; which rights and the
title to which property have been passed
upon by our Courts and carefully adjusted
TO the principles of this organic law and we
have now become familiar with its under
lying and controlling effects and can and do
readily adjust ourselves TO them. This very
Constitution has provision fer amending
1t, that is decreasing or charging the pow
afs Of GoKaeEninent. So the people can
readily eliminate any Objectionable feature
or insert any additional provisions without
pulling down the whole fabric otherwise
concededly well constructed. In fact the
people did in 1874 amend this very Consti-
tuition in accordance with its provisions in
this that under the Constitution as origl-
nally adopted in the trial of all causes at
law, civil or criminal, either of the parties
could remove their case to another Court by
swearing Justice could not be obtained in
the one in which the cause then happened
to be. Notorious cases Of larceny were thus
constantly removed by criminals tor no
other purpose than delay and the chances
of escaping thereby unwhipped of justice.
The manifest impropriety of such proceed
ing being considered by the people they
amended that clause of the Constitution so
as to exclude from the class of removals all
criminal cases except those where the pun
ishment might be capital. This amendment
was done peaceably and timely and no in
jufious results followed-no upheavas in
society such as are always attendant on
complete change In organic laws. In other
words, TO use a homely phrase, society felt
the shoe pinch at this point and instead oil
throwing away the whole shoe, simply re-
paired it SO as to relieve the pressure where
th pain was felt.
If, therefore, there be at present any de-
fects in our Constitution, why should not
those who have perceived them point them
out to the people specifically so that the
sovereign people can sit in judgment on the
pros and cons. Is this not the way pru-
dent man deals with his private affairs
Would not wise and cautious business
man repair the waste places rather than
destroy the whole and take chances TO &C.
quire again? Would an intelligent farmer
sell good farm because some of his fencing
or buildings needed repairs, or perhaps one
field needed some special attention? If a
foolish man should do this would 1t not be
altogether probable that he might get a
worse farm than he had.
We have been repeatedly told for many
years past and are even now told that the
affairs of this State have been most wisely
and economically managed-so much so
that Maryland stands foremost in the ranks
OF the States of this Union in good govern
ment, prosperity and honest and just admin
istration of the laws How | ask could all
this be unless our Constitution, upon which
rests all laws and our officers, whose duty 1t
is to see to the enforcement OF those laws,
are not par excellencep Yet there are those
who have managed and bossed our affairs,
though most blatant in proclaiming the
above facts when they suit their purposes,
who now claim for some vague and unde
fined reasons the whole Constitution shall
be changed and an entire new set of officers
elected, at enormous expense, and for what i?
| ask again for what? Has the Democratic
party, in its assembled wisdom, advised us
to vote for new Constitution No. 1t has
simply in obedience to the provisions of the
present Constitution submitted the question
to the determination of the people. But we
have been publicly told by one high in the
affairs Of the party that because the Repub-
licans have pledged their party against a
new Constitution that Democrats should
turn their backs on them and shoot the
other way. To the dogs with such reason
ing Are we as sensible men to do wrong
because those who have always been in the
wrong happen to advocate the rightly Or
should we not rather do right because 1t is
right, regardless Of the pleasure or enmity
friend or foeY | am one of those Democrats
who would rather shake hands with the
devil, if perchance he should be In the right
than to play marbles with an angel on the
banks of the crystal stream if he should be
in the wrong. EEtEF ft8LE
Rely upon it, fellow Democrats, that the
safety and welfare of the people depend on
moving slowly of holding on to what they
have until they kaoso what is to be substi.
tuted in its place. Do not pull down an
old and comfortable home upon too rash
confidence in the loose and flippant prom
ises of others repair when necessary, but
preserve the structure-discharge dishonest
servants, but do not stop your work by dis.
charging every servant you may have be-
cause there are a few you do not desire, and
take your chances of obtaining an entirely
new and inexperienced set of hands. We
are reminded of the aggressions of corporate
interests and must also bear in mind that
the psliticians-those who live by politics
are equally as greedy and more unscrupu-
lous than corporations. So it is, the peo-
pie are between the upper and neither
mill stone, and fortunate indeed will they
be if not ground 10 pieces Their salvation
is in their own hands. They control the bal
lots which rule the corporations and the
politicians alike and by the proper and pru.
dent and wise exercise of the suffrage they
may avert the catastrophe impending. Let
then the corporation bull pup and the ring
bull pup seize each other by the throats
and in their frantic commissions and blind
fury the people may be enabled to resur.
rect and reconstruct But do not let either
force you to espouse their cause. Hold on
to what you have until the STERN subsidies
and then amend or alter calmly and de.
liberately.
1t is said the canal must be provided for
that the State is in the position of farmer
whose farm is about to be sold under q
mortgage who, IL he could not bid at his
own sale, would be ruined. What non.
sense What puerility. Is it necessary 10
tell any sensible man that the Court Of APP
peals has expressly decided that such
man can not bid at his own sale. Again